Boy Scout Roundtables; What do Scouters want from it?

[DeanRx]

Basementdweller-

 

Are you sure we're not in the same district?

 

Sounds just like the RT I went to last week. The district dinner sounds about the same as well.

 

As far as RT goes I want a coulpe things out of it:

 

1) Very short announcements about upcoming events. This can be done via a one page newsletter. I don't need it read to me by some crusty old scoutmaster who's sone was an Eagle 15 years ago...

 

2) Have a "buffet of ideas" for program events, skits, songs, run-ons, etc... help the Packs / Troops to build their ideas for meetings. Usually one idea is sent up the flagpole, and while its a good one, it becomes the ONLY go-to item folks have. Our last RT breakout was about doing a recruitment round-up. One leader suggested a good game for the scouts was a "2-liter bottle rocket launcher...." - Hmmmmm ... we did that last year for our round-up at the urging of our CC that went to this meeting last year..... Wonder if this is the same game EVERYONE uses in our district? While its a great game, it doesn't help me add variety to our pack events.

 

3) Take the emphasis OFF the beads for adults. Its stupid anyways. I go to traing to get information, not so I can have a little craft bead to add to my "leader's necklace". We have FAR too many adults trying to re-live their youth it seems.

 

The one thing our distric DOES do well - is the RT Helps. I don't know if this is published by council or national, but its a very good booklet of ideas, songs, skits, etc... that tie into the next month's theme. Its the best part of the RT IMHO. Good thing they only give it out there, b/c if I could get my hands on it without going, I wouldn't have a need to attend.

[BobS]

Very interesting discussion. I have just entered my second year as Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner and am struggling with many of the same issues. When I stepped up last year one of the first things I did was work with the District Commissioner to change the format a little. We did exactly what some of the members of this discussion suggested. Announcements were cut back dramatically to only critical ones - and only to the appropriate group. We added gathering/fellowship time (15 minutes) before the official start, and we have a table for fliers, announcements, brochures, etc. Roundtable begins with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed immediately by the very few announcements and any kind of recognitions (Leader training awards, Recent Eagles, etc.) In less than 10 minutes we are splitting into the Boy Scout/Cub Scout groups.

 

When I took over last year, I went looking for help as well. I got a copy of the Roundtable Commissioner Training program and went through it thoroughly. A couple of years ago, BSA stopped producing Boy Scout Roundtable guides - they want you to use the program helps. This didn't help at all. I did follow their suggested agenda with multiple items for each meeting. It worked okay, but where we've ended up is this: The Boy Scout portion of Roundtable usually starts off with a presentation - hopefully from a guest speaker - and then we go into a structured discussion of a specific topic. We try and close with a 30 second recap of activity by each unit present. That's it.

 

Our group has struggled with Roundtable for quite a while, and my first attempts last year kind of got lost with too much stuff so I've scaled back - for now. The discussions have been getting better and attendance seems to be improving based on our attendance sheets. We'll keep working on this and as everyone gets more into Roundtable, I'll reintroduce some of the other items.

 

Our presenters have included: the District Eagle Advancement Specialist, local DNR and Forest Preserve Rangers, Cabellas, local archery outfitter and others. Discussion topics tend to be front-line stuff, either direct from that section of Scouting magazine, or items and issues I've pulled from forums like this.

 

Oh, and I've found it's very helpful to distribute a printed agenda. Makes it much easier to quell the gripes and direct the curmudgeons back on topic.

 

Thanks to everyone - I've picked up a couple more good ideas from this thread and will use them soon.

 

 

[Basementdweller]

Don't get me wrong........Wood badge is a good thing and provides needed advanced training. I intend to complete it myself in a the next three years. I have encountered too many elitists mentality's from the wood badge bunch. These are the same wood badgers that called out a guy with and eagle knot on his uniform because he didn't know what the name of a fire starting stick was. The comment was that the guy got his badge in the 80's when you didn't actually have to camp to earn an eagle. I asked the one wood badger where his eagle knot was........ He was not a scout as a youth, interesting. Enough wood badge rant.

 

Give me useful training or ideas at round table. Come to the meeting prepared. Know you topics and audience. I don't need to tie knots, I don't need to fold the flag, I don't need to see the pictures of your vacation to hedonism, and for the love of Pete stop recruiting people for Wood Badge. I am here to get ideas for the comming months and to network with the other Cub leaders.